BOSTON
International meetings set in Boston and Cambridge continue to grow. According to the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), in 2013, Boston and Cambridge hosted a record number of 56 international meetings, up from 44 in 2012, making it the number one United States destination on the list, with a ranking of 39 world-wide, up from 49 in 2012. Boston & Cambridge have topped this list for the U.S. in three of the last five years.
The economic impact of these international meetings to the Boston and Cambridge economies is $88.3 million. According to the US Department of Commerce, Boston and Cambridge saw 1.28 million overseas visitors in 2013, a 3% increase over 2012.
"I am delighted that Boston and Cambridge have once again topped the ICCA list for North America," said Patrick B. Moscaritolo, President & CEO of the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau. "This didn't happen by accident. With increased competition from our North American counterparts, we've had to continually step-up our game, and the results are clear."
The sales efforts have also resulted in an increase in international air service to Boston, including increased non-stop air service from Europe, as well as non-stop service from the Middle East, Latin America, Japan and China.
"Partnering with the GBCVB on these international sales and marketing programs has really paid off for Cambridge," said Robyn Culbertson, Executive Director, Cambridge Office for Tourism. "Our joint initiatives enable us to showcase the city to the international market, which benefits the Cambridge hotels and the hospitality industry immensely."
Moscaritolo added that the international meetings have hit the "sweet spot of [the] brand. Boston is a magnet for meetings related to education, medical and life sciences, which are the kinds of industries that contribute to our local economy. The wealth of colleges and medical schools that we have here are huge resources for these meetings."
